Ballbot - Get My Breakfast

Ballbot is a narrow, 5-foot-(1.5-meter)-tall robot and is being developed at Carnegie Mellon University by Professor Ralph Hollis. He says that Ballbot represents pioneering work in the emerging field of ''human-centered robotics”.

The hope is that Ballbot might one day help provide care and companionship to the disabled and America's rapidly aging population.

Apparently this field of research is already booming in countries like Japan and Korea, where rapidly aging populations are expected to put overwhelming demands on younger health care workers.

Caring for the aged may not be the most glamorous area of business but it is slowly growing into what will be a massive market.